Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Sausage

Back when I had my first baby, my husband’s grandma brought over a big casserole dish full of mac and cheese.

You guys, I was ecstatic. I loved mac and cheese and I was exhausted beyond belief. An already cooked dinner that I knew I was going to enjoy. Yasss.

Then I peeled back the foil to heat it up and I saw all of this weirdness happening in there. To be specific, there was smoked sausage. All up in my macaroni and cheese.

I admit to nothing, but there may have been tears.

I mean, who would ruin mac and cheese that way and then give it to a hormonal new mother?

I decided to just pick around the sausage until my husband convinced me to just grow up and try a bite of the sausage.

Y’all. I am forever in that man’s debt. I’m now hooked on mac and cheese with smoked sausage. Why is it so good? I will never know. But I will always keep eating it and trying to find out.

Anyway, I jumped on the Instant Pot craze, along with the rest of the country, and I figured I’d better learn how to make some pressure cooker mac and cheese. I’ve made this a few times now, experimenting a little each time until I came to this piece of perfection. I started this off with a base recipe I picked up in one of those huge Instant Pot facebook groups, but I’ve changed things up a bit to suit my taste.

I think you’re going to love how this turns out. It’s so creamy and super cheesy. The smoked sausage is divine in here and, in my opinion, switches this over from a side dish to a main dish. Serve with a green salad and you’re good to go.

Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese with Smoked Sausage

Instant Pot mac and chese with smoked sausage! This recipe is ready in just 15 minutes.

Ingredients

1poundsmoked sausage

1teaspoonolive oil

1poundmacaroniuncooked

4cupswater

2teaspoonsdry mustard powder

1teaspoonsalt

1teaspoonpepper

12ouncesevaporated milk

16ouncessharp cheddargrated

4ouncesMonterey Jackgrated

1tablespoonchopped parsley

Instructions

Set the Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker to saute on high. Heat the oil in the pot.

Slice the smoked sausage into 1/4 inch rounds and place in the pot, cooking until browned on each. Remove sausage from the pot and set aside.

Add the macaroni, water, mustard powder, salt, and pepper to the pot.

Place the lid on the pressure cooker and set to sealing.

Cook on manual pressure for 3 minutes.

Quick release the pressure and remove the lid.

Turn the pressure cooker to saute and stir in the evaporate milk.

Stir in the cheese, one handful at a time, until it's all melted and combined.

Stir the sausage into the macaroni and cheese, top with parsley, and serve.

Recipe Notes

Recipe serves 8 as a side dish or 4 as a main dish.

Nutrition Facts

Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese with Smoked Sausage

Amount Per Serving

Calories 724Calories from Fat 378

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 42g65%

Saturated Fat 20g100%

Cholesterol 121mg40%

Sodium 923mg38%

Total Carbohydrates 49g16%

Dietary Fiber 2g8%

Sugars 7g

Protein 36g72%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on bunsinmyoven.com should only be used as a general guideline.

60 comments

Now to that add a fresh tomato cut up small. The tomato will bring this to a whole new level.

I just do Kraft Deluxe Mac and cheese, add Johnsonville beef sausage cut up small and at least one big maybe two tomatoes. Yes the tomatoes in my humble opinion just give this dish even more flavor and tomatoes are healthy.

Karly, I am seriously so hungry right now it practically hurts to look at that deliciousness. I just got my Instant Pot after Christmas and have only used it a few times, but this is DEFINITELY happening. Like SOON.

I would have thought the same thing Karly! Your Mac & Cheese looks perfect – the creamy texture is velvety and it’s got just the right about of cheese to noodle. I love smoked sausage and bet it is magnificent in this dish! I haven’t jumped into the Instapot thing yet – but you have inspired me! Have a lovely week.

I love mac, cheese, and sausage but I also like mac and cheese with Cincinnati chili.
No instant pot but I did grow up with a mother that used a pressure cooker all the time. I don’t know why I never got one because I loved her recipes cooked in one especially her stuffed peppers.

Instant pots are ALL THE RAGE, why haven’t I gotten one yet?! People keep asking me to! I’ll absolutely refer those peeps to this recipe in the meantime… because YUM…. I love me some mac & cheese! Amazing pics, as always!

Yum! Thanks to this, I now have an intense craving for mac & cheese! And the smoked sausage sounds perfect. I often put bacon in it, or broccoli, but I have to try sausage next time, which will be SOON!

Recipes like this make me want to jump on the instant pot band wagon too! I have tried to convince myself that I don’t need one. Lies all lies! This mac and cheese look amazing and I can’t wait to check out your pinto beans recipe too!

Wow what an interesting way to use Instant pot! Can’t believe it takes like 10 minutes to cook the whole dish. And plus your mac n’ cheese looks totally perfect! Can’t wait to try it out this weekend 🙂

After a busy Saturday working outside in perfect weather for late October, I came in and looked for something to instant pot using smoked sausage. I came across this recipe. It is fantastic! Very easy to make and great flavor and consistency. Often when I make homemade mac and cheese it is gummy, but not this one. This is a keeper receipe.

My husband travels for work, and our son and I recently had the opportunity to visit him on the road. After working on the road for weeks at a time, it’s safe to say he gets burnt out on eating at restaurants, and after 10-12 hour work days he sure doesn’t feel like grocery shopping and cooking (and I can’t blame him). So on this visit, we brought along our express cooker, and I tried this beauty out! Not only did we get to have a delicious home cooked meal as a family, but he now has leftovers for dinner after we return home! Thanks for this super fast, easy, tasty recipe that allowed us to spend a little more time together.
I may or may not have taste tested throughout the cooking process ?